It was the day of the big DPharm conference and the afternoon seminars were well under way.

Themes included: the future; the 'global' network; and something called Unicorn1 that was going to change the world. The guys giving this latest presentation were enthusiastically vague, and Natalie frequently had the feeling they hadn't said anything at all. 'Something you've never seen before', 'imagine a world without money', 'no more menial work', the same old hippy nonsense that had made Natalie angry in the first place. She may be a fan of science fiction, but this was 1989. The world was not about to become overrun with killer robots.2

Although she had to admit, a robot invasion might make the week a bit more interesting. One more evening of socio-economic speculation and she really would give up, go home, and take the hit on the finances.

Find another, safer job.

The audience of Eminent Minds lapped it up eagerly though, and before she knew it, it was time to start dishing out the caffeine again. The hairy scientists 'Charcoal Suit' Bernard and 'Gandalf' Gerald had some fun at her expense following their earlier discussion3, but they soon became too engrossed in another series of uninspiring presentations to pay her much attention. So Natalie withdrew to the back of the room and put her headphones on, drowning out the monotonous drone of the speaker with some electro-pop. Humming to herself, fingering the slightly embossed letters on the business card4, she thought about the strange offer from the professor. She wondered what sort of work the Professor had in mind for her, although anything would be better than tea girl.

Sometime after tea, while the hoard squabbled over biscuits and quantum theory, Natalie heard a deep rumble, like a far away explosion. The lights flickered, but nobody seemed to notice. She sauntered over to the window and casually looked out over the city.

The conference was being held on the 4th floor, which consisted of grand halls and vast lecture theatres, and at least fifteen bars.

Someone poked her on the shoulder. 'Hey Nat, what's going on?' Jake said, nodding at the lorries outside.

'No idea,' said Natalie, tugging the headphones off her head. 'You hear that noise? Like a big rumbling sound?'

'Yeah. I thought it came from downstairs.'

'What do you think it was? I mean what else do they do here? I thought it was all chemistry. You know, drugs and that.'

'Yes, but what's "and that"?' Jake said, waggling his eyebrows knowingly. Natalie laughed. Several heads turned and frowned. Natalie frowned back.

'Something pretty explosive, that's for sure,' she said.

'Hmm.' Jake looked out of the window. The lorries had not moved. There was no sign of any excitement. 'Probably nothing to worry about.'

'From what I can tell this weekend, there's a hell of a lot to worry about.' Natalie folded her arms and slumped against the wall, pouting.

'Look,' Jake said. 'I saw you talking to the Professor. I think she likes you.'

'So?' Natalie did not think it likely. From what she had seen of the great philanthropist professor, she was probably more of a pet project; see how I introduce the slum kid to the world of science, see how great I am!

'So, she is probably your only chance to have a better life.' Definitely a Project. Obviously Jake thought so too. Well, that was just great.

'Why?' she said.

'She's going to go far. All of this,' he added, waving his hand to take in the room, 'was her idea. This professor has an incredible vision of the future. I think all these people agree. They want to make it happen.'

'These geeks?' said Natalie. 'Oh shush yourself!' She scowled at the back row, some of whom were now muttering to themselves and glaring quite openly at them. Now Jake had caught the strange bug that had infected the rest of the convention. Triumphant expectation, as if the roof was about to open up and God himself would appear to add his pennyworth.

'Yes. These geeks. Listen, you may not realise it, but the people in this room are the finest minds on the planet when it comes to computers.'

'Yeah yeah, I realise it alright. No-one could grow a beard that impressive and not be some kind of genius.'

'Exactly.' Jake nodded. 'If anybody is driving the future, it's them. And she's in charge.'

Natalie watched the men on stage running round a large globe building a complex network of strings and marbles. Satellites and spaceships. All connected. Everything is connected. A large computer-generated face appeared on the big screen, with the word 'UNICORN' emblazoned across it.

'So you think I should take the job?' she said at last.

'Oh yes, definitely. You want to do this for the rest of your life?'

'Guess not. But I don't understand why you're so interested?'

'I have my reasons,' said Jake. Natalie thought this sounded more promising. She was a big fan of secrets and subterfuge. 'I've been following the professor for a few years now,' he continued, 'and some things don't add up.'

'Like what?'

'I'm not sure yet. But our professor there has a plan, and I want to find out what it is.' Ah, here it comes, Natalie thought. And there she was, thinking she had made a new friend. Her mother was right. Men never want to be your friend, they were always after something.

'Hey,' she said, 'I'm not going to spy for you!'

'Well, whatever you decide,' said Jake, holding up his hands in supplication, 'here's my card. If you ever need my help, just call me.'

'Thanks, I guess.'

'Be careful. And don't forget.'

'I won't.'

But she did.

• 2.3 - The Royal Society , in which Unicorn is introduced to the Royal Society elite. The conference is rumoured to have taken place mere days after that event.
• 2. This is not that kind of story. Nearly, but not quite. At least not yet, anyway.
• 3. See 4.3 - The Argument
• 4. Given by Dudgeon, see the end of 4.3, above.